Menu-card holder



Sept. 8, 1925. B. E. LAWRENCE MENU CARD HOLDER Filed VJune 20, 192s Patented Sept. 8, 1925.

UNITE, S'll 1,552,437 rArsNr ersten.

BENJAMIN E. LAWRENCE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TOB. E. LAVBENCE-86 CO., INC., A C01R15Gitti-M1510N"r 0F ILLINOIS.

\ y MENUGARD HOLDER.

t Applicatcn led June 20, 1923v Serial No. 646,521.

vTo all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN E. LAW msnen, a. citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Menu- Card Holders, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to holders, and particularly loosel leaf holders.

rl`he main objects of this inventionare to provide improved means for attaching a hook to a supporting member withoutthe use of soldering or other similar fastening means; to provide improved means of the above kind adapted for use with loose lea-f binders, and particularly for menu card holders of the type wherein a pair of hoo-ks are arranged on a back between hinged covers for the attachment of the sheet; to provide an improved construction and arrangement of resilient means for normally closing the covers of a loose leaf holder and which will permit the covers to be folded Vback upon themselves wit-hout injury to thehinge connection; and to provide an improved mounting for the back of a loose leaf holder which will permit it to be partially rotated independently yof the covers when the covers are open.

An illustrative embodiment of this in vention is shown in the'accompanying draw ings, wherein:

Figurel is 'a planof a menu card holder to which this invention is applied, showing the cover members in open positions, part of the inner frame` sections being broken away to show the spring mounting.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the back showing the telescoping members in their extended positions for the insertion of the hooks.

Fig. 3 is a central section of the holder, the view being taken through the back and showing a loose sheet being inserted into the holder. y Y

Fig; 4 is a side elevation of the back having attached thereto a sheet which is shown partly'in section. j

Fig. l5 is an enlargedv fragmentary top plan of the holder, showing asheet held between the cover members which arevpartly open, one of the pivot pins of the back being shown in section.

Fig- 6 is an enlarged fragmentary det-ail of the holder, showing part of the mounting 1n dotted outline. Y In thefOrm-shown, the holder includes a back of improved construction on which is mounted an improved arrangement of hooks for engagement with'apertures in the crease of `a folded menu card to be inserted between a pair of hingedcover members' which are connectedto each other and to the back by an improved mounting.

Referring to the drawings, the holder comprises a back 1, on which is mounted a pair of hooks 2 for engagement with apertures 3 formed in the crease of a folded menul card 4, or other sheet to be inserted in the holder between hinged cover members 5. The cover members 5 are hinged together by an improved form of mounting 6, which includes means for pivotally supportingthe'back 1.

In the form shown, the back 1 includes a pairof tubular telescoping members 7 and 8, havmg openings 9 and 10 respectively formed therein adjacent each end of the back lfor receiving the hooks 2. As illustrated, the openings 9l ofthe outer member 7 are arranged to fully register ,withv the'opening 1() of the inner member 8 only when the two telescoping members are relatively shifted to the extended positions shown in Fig. 2. The openings9 and `10 are of sufficient size to permit the shanks of the hooks 2 to be readily inserted into the inner member 8 when the openings are in full register.

4In the particular construction shown,the fastening hooks 2 are formed of a heavy gage of wire whichV is bent to form asubstantially straightshank 11 and a retaining part 12, the end of which is slightly curved to facilitate the insertion of the leaf. The retaining part 12 is arranged so as to be spaced slightly from the tubular member 7, when the shank 11 is held within the inner member 8. In the event that a filler tube isused, it would be provided with openings corresponding vwith the openings 10 of the tube 8. The hooks2 are arrangedv on the back 1 with their inner ends pointed toward each other, so as to permit ythe sheet 4to be inserted only when buckled transversely of itself, as shown in Fig. 3, .and then flat-,f tened.V- To facilitate the insertion of the leaf, the base parts 13 of the hooks 2 are disposed substantially perpendicula-rly to the back l, The improved arrangement of the hooks 2, herein shown, prevents removal of the sheet from the holder without first buckling the sheet as in its insertion. The telescoping members 7 and '8 are -relatii'fely shifted to the positions shown in Fig'. 3f, wherein they coact to reduce the effective sizes of the openings 9 and 10, thereby look; ing the hooks against removal. Suitable means, such as rivets 14, secure the 'telescopi ing members 7 and 8 against relative shifting after the hooks are 1Arr-ro-u-nted 'on the back. The Aimproved construction 'of back 1, here'- inshown, perm-its the holder to be readily assembled and does away with the use of solder 'or similar fastening means.

The cover 4mernbers 5 are' preferably forme'd to provide iframes for supporting advertising cards, or menu cards containing l-iSt's of' Spcial laten-1S -nfad'diti'n to those whichappear on the foldfed sheet.I

n As illustrated, eaeh'of thec'over members 5 comprises 'channel-shaped sections 15 and 16,'which are secured together by rivets 17, so `as to form 'a frame for a pair of Celluloid or vother transparent sheets 18, for enclosing the advertising 'card or the special menu sheet, not shown. AThe 'edges of the 'transparent 'sheets 1S are fitted in the I'channel sections 15 and 1"'6 yare vsecured against displacement by rivets 19 extending through the sections 15. The lc'over members 5 are similar 'in eonstr'u'ction to those shown in my Patent No. 1,444,193, issued February 6, 1928.

vThe inountingv' includes a pair of oppositely l'disposed 'substantially U-sh'ape'd springs 20, having arms 21 I'connecting the cover members 5 together at the vupper and lower 'ends of the frame sections 15. The spring arms 2O extend 'inwardly' into the channel sections 15 and their inner ends y'are secured against turning relative to the Cover members by being'bent 'transversely across the channel sections, as shown at 22. The springs 20 are 'arranged so as to permit the covers 5 to remain ,slightly open when the holder is standing upright, as in use on a table. In any other position of the `cover 'members 5, the spring arms 21 are placed 'under torsional strain. `When the holder is lying down fiat 'on one ofthe covers 5, the yother .cyer closes itsA own yweight after being substantially closed by Y theaction of 'the springs 20. With this improved ar'n 'rangement of "springAv mounting the cover members maybe 'folded back upon 'themselves without njttry tothe YSprit 'The spring preventsfthe coversfrom being left open when the vholder is 'lying on a table.

l'h4()tinted' on ftliebaj'se parts ,of the spr-ings 20, ne beating' members 24,' formed toV receive 'piv'o'tpins or studs'255 which e'X'- tend into thejei'ids ef Ithe I tubular back 1-. the showin studs Qvai'e riveted teltle bask l rivets-'14: VThe studs 25V fully 'oper/1.

y16 from coming in contact with and marring the surface of the table or other support on which the holder may be placed. The improved pivotal mounting of the back 1 permit-s the back to be partially rotated independently of the springs 20 and of the covers 5, so that the menu sheet may be readily turned inthe holder while the vcovers are The 'operatilonof inserting a, loose leaf into the holder Yis believed to be clear from the Vforegoing description.

Although but one specific embodiment of this invention has` been herein shown and described, it will be understood that numerous details of the "construction shown may be altered or omitted without departing f-rom the 'spirit @of this invention as deiinedfb'y the following claims;

l claim:

1. A loose leaf holder comprising a backv having a pair lof 'cover' members hinged thereto, 'and a pair of hooks on said back for engagement with apertures in a leaf to be Yinserted i'n the holder, both of said hooks being disposed in a single plane, said hooks being spaced apart longitudinally of said back Yand having their free ends pointed inward toward each other tovpermit the leaf to be inserted only when buckled transversely of itself at its medial part and vthen flattened so as to be held between said hooks and back.

2; A loose leaf holder comprising la back having a pair of cover members hinged thereto, and a pair of hooks on said back for engagement with apertures in a leaf to be inserted in the holder, both of said hooks being disposed in a single plane, said hooks being spaced apart longitudinally of said back with their base parts disposed substantially lperpendicular to 'said back and having their free ends pointed inwardly toward each other to permit the leaf to be inserted only when buckled transversely of itself at Vits medial part and then flattened so as to 'be held between said hooks `and back.y

3. holder comprising a pair of telesoop ing members, and a hook having a shank eX- te'nde'd throughA anopeninginone of said members, ysaid telescop'ing members being relatively shifted so as to reduce the effective 'size of :said opening for` locking said hook in the holder.-

4. A holder comprising a oftelescopingmembers, a hookfhaving a shank extended through an'ropenilng one of said members, said lteles'coping lmembers being relatively shifted 'so as to reduce the effective size ofsaid opening 'for locking 'said hook the holder, andfineans for securing said lOl) telescoping members against relative shifting in their hook locking positions.

5. A holder comprising a pair of telescoping members having registering openings, and a hook having a shank extended through said openings, said telescoping members being relatively shifted so as to reduce the effective sizes of said openings for locking said hoolr in the holder.

6. A holder comprising a pair of telescoping tubular members having registering openings, and a hook having a shank inserted through said openings and extending axially Within the inner one of said members, said members being relatively shifted axially so as to reduce the effective sizes of said openings for locking said hook in the holder, said telescoping members being riveted together to secure them against relative shifting in their hook locking positions.

7. A loose leaf holder comprising a back having a pair of cover members hinged thereto, said back including telescoping parts, and a pair of hooks for insertion into apertures in a sheet to be held in the holder, said hoolrs n having shanks extended through openings in one of said telescoping parts, said telescoping parts being relatively shifted so as to reduce the effect-ive sizes of said openings for looking said hooks to the back.

8. A loose leaf holder comprising a pair of cover members, a resilient element connecting said covers, and al back pivotally connected to said resilient element and having means for the attachment of a sheet.

9. A loose leaf holder comprising a pair of cover members, a substantially U-shaped spring having its arms fixed on said cover members and arranged to be placed under torsional strain when said covers are open, and a back pivotally connected to said spring and having means for the attachment of a sheet.

10. A loose leaf holder comprising a pair of covers, channel members extending along the inner edges of said covers, a substantially U-shaped spring having its arms located in said channels, the ends of said arms being bent transversely to said arms in the plane of the respective cover and coacting with said channels to place said arms under torsional strain when said covers'are open, and a back pivotally connected to said spring and having means for the attachment of a sheet.

11. A loose leaf holder comprising a pair of covers, channel members extending along the inner edges of said covers, a substantially U-shaped spring having its arms located in said channels, the ends of said arms being bent transversely to said arms in the plane of the respective cover and coacting with said channels to place said arms under torsional strain when said covers are open, and a back pivotally connected to said spring.

12. A loose leaf holder comprising a pair of hinged covers having their inner opposed edges spaced apart, a pair of substantially U-shaped springs arranged at respectively opposite ends of said covers and having their arms secured to said inner edges, bearing members on the base parts of said U- shaped springs, pivot pins on'said bearing members, and a back arranged between said covers and secured to said pins.

13. A loose leaf holder comprising apair of hinged covers having their inner opposed edges spaced apart, a pair of substantially U-shaped springs arranged at respectively opposite ends of said covers and having their arms secured Io said inner edges, bearing members on the base parts of said U- shaped springs, coaxial pivot pins extending through said bearing members, a back arranged between said covers and secured to the inner ends of said pins, and knobs on the outer ends of said pins projecting beyond the ends of said covers.

Signed at Chicago this 18 day of June 1923.

BENJAMIN E. LAWRENCE. 

